Safe House

Chapter 4: Choice

Rated T {will be changed to M later for lemons}

Disclaimer: I do not own Inception

Author's Note: If the story goes the way I plan, lemon will be in chapter 7 or so… yeah :D I also must apologize for my absence yet again, this time I am full of ideas and itching to write but school just started up and it's going to be the hardest year if the rumors are true so please bare with me. I will try to get chapters up as fast as I can but it's only the fourth day and I have hours of homework and a bunch of tests so sorry!

Ariadne couldn't help but wonder if it was worth it to unpack or not. Her hands clenched into fists as she accidentally let slip and looked up at the clock once more. It seemed to be betraying her, only going slower and slower each time she gave a look. There was an easy way to resolve it, but she had been avoiding it so she wouldn't lose track of everything…

The house was silent, another thing that was going to drive her mad. If they were going to be there at least they could be a little social, have a drink or two, turn on the television, play some music. ANYTHING. But no, they chose to retreat to the isolation of their room. Everyone on their own. Someone would definently crack like this. Sticking together is better than fending alone.

She let out a sigh and sat up on the bed. Her fingers running over the scratchy comforter. She bit the tip of her nail and looked around. The wind whizzed past the house, threatening

"Damn it," she hissed as she met the clock once more. With haste she pulled the quilt off the top and dragged it across the room to the grandfather clock that stood in the corner. She had to jump to get it around fully but it worked. Now she couldn't be distracted from… well… from… her thoughts?

This was just ridiculous. There was no reason she had to be there and everyone knew it. She had just tagged along because Arthur was involved. That and she couldn't possibly go back to the apartment she shared with an old school-mate. She had promised her that she would be gone with her boyfriend for at least a month or so. Not only that but she would have to make up a story and nothing really seemed plausible anymore. Not to Ariadne anyways.

Her birthday was approaching quickly. If only she could spend time at her parents like she used to… but no she had told them she would be with Arthur. In Paris, the city of lights. The city of Romance. It was supposed to be the best birthday ever. Perhaps Arthur would even make a move, like they actually move in together.

The Safe House had enough rooms for everyone and it only seemed natural that Ariadne claim a different one that Arthur, seeing as they weren't living together anyways. Sure she had been with him the first two nights, but that was only for… well… for pleasure, not to actually sleep together… in the literal sense.

The sound of the stairs creaking brought her out of her dazy thoughts. Of course it could just be Cobb coming back from getting a drink of water, or Eames using the toilet but something told her it was Arthur, and if it was, she needed to talk to him.

"Arthur?" she opened her door and sure enough he stood there. He seemed a little surprised to see her, almost like he had forgotten… or maybe he was acutely aware of her presence.

"Arthur, I…" Cobb and Eames came trudging up the stairs, muttering something, but stopped as they saw the couple standing in the doorway to her room. With pale faces they moved out of the way and into their rooms, not even bothering to give a, good morning, or a friendly, hello.

"Is everything ok?" she frowned at the men's odd behavior. Ariadne frowned, had they been meeting... without her?

"Everything is fine," he nodded assuring. Casting a glance over his shoulder he pushed her into her room and closed the door.

"Sorry Arthur, I'm not really in the mood..."

"No," he chuckled, "I just don't want them to hear us talking."

"Why… do you have something to say?"

"No, they're just a little… touchy right now. You know. Being cooped up is never good for people who are used to going to different countries every other week." He shrugged nonchalantly. "What's up?"

"I've made up my mind," she bit her lip looking at the suitcase that was half-sticking out of the cloest.

"Made up your mind?" he repeated.

"I should go, I can't stay here just to entertain you, and look after them," she sighed.

"Ari, you know I don't think of you like that," he tried to take her hands but she turned away, wondering to the night stand.

"Yeah, I know but," she took a seat at the edge of the bed, "I can't help but feel like there is no reason for me to be here. These people, whoever they are, they've never seen me. I think I will be safe. I don't even think they would come after you if they haven't by now. I mean, it makes no sense. My birthday is coming up and it will be a good idea for us to either get the fuck out of here, or if you want to stay. It would be nice if you could let me go. Go home, spend some time with my family."

Arthur approached her slowly, taking a seat beside her. He stared at her, unsure of what to say. She was right, but he didn't want to admit it, she could tell. Finally convinced of herself Ariadne bolted up and rushed to the closet. Quickly she removed the luggage and shoved in the few things that she had bothered to take out, a few days laundry and her oral hygiene utensils.

"Please, don't go," his argument was weak, "I thought you wanted to be with me."

"I do," she paused, "But not isolated like this. Where no one can breath and everyone is ready to rip each other's throats out. If we're together I need to be alone with you and just you. I thought we were going to travel and have some more time… together. It's just not going to happen here, so even if you don't want to leave, that doesn't mean I can't."

Arthur made little to no attempt to stop her. Finally once she was done, she headed out the door, finally getting him to move. He followed her through the hall and down the stairs.

"What if they do come for you? What then?"

"Arthur, I'm not new to this. I know how to run, and so do you. I'm actually surprised you all would just sit here like ducks and not leave. I mean, none of you have ever been the type to sit around and wait. You usually take off, never to be heard from for months. Masters of stealth. This whole thing is stupid for people as experienced as you." She snipped.

As she reached the door she threw it open wide, and a cold gust settled in.

"Shit," she muttered, pulling one of her sweater sleeves further over her hand.

"You can't leave, it's going to snow here soon, and this is the kind of place where when it snows you're stuck for good."

"It hasn't started yet, and that's all the more reason to go now," she said, pulling her things behind her. Obviously annoyed Arthur tried to pick up her bag but she just yanked her things away from him, glaring.

"I want you to be safe. Please Ariadne."

"You want me to be safe?" she laughed, "You won't tell me why we're hiding and who from!" They hurried down the stone pathway that obviously led to some sort of town. Someone had sent an errand person who they obviously trusted, so this evidently led somewhere.

"They're people who are enemies of our employer."

"That doesn't make any sense…"

"The reason we are here is because we have to stay together. We had an agreement that we still have to work. It's why we didn't go. If we cut out, we would be fired." Arthur said quickly.

"Well that's you, you don't need me."

"We do need you!"

"Please," her eyebrows bunched together as she turned around, abruptly stopping. "What do you need me for?"

"I need you… and," he spread his arms, "we need you to be here."

"Oh really?" she crossed her arms playfully, "Why?"

"…for the job." He said quickly.

"For the job?" she echoed. Finally something caught her interest.

"Yeah, the architect is gone, so is the chemist but you can step in on one part," his eyes were wide, almost like he was surprised what was coming out of his mouth.

"…and, would Cobb and Eames be ok with this?" she leaned against her bag.

"Why wouldn't they be?" he seemed even more surprised.

There was a long pause. A gust of wind breezed through the air, whistling, the trees whispering with its pass.

"You mean, you're finally going to tell me what this is all about?" she gestured to the strange landscape where she couldn't place on the map.

Hesitatnly Arthur pushed his hands into his pockets. They both shook with cold, but she didn't want to move until she knew where she was going. A small glance over his shoulder and he began to nod.

"Yes," his voice was carried through the wind.

Ariadne licked her already chapped lips and took a few steps back towards him. A smile spilled across his face as he ran to join her. Kissing her forehead before pulling her into a tight hug. Surprised she laughed cooly and returned the hug.

"You aren't lying to me, are you?" she asked. Normally she trusted him but there was something about the way he looked. His features more unsettled, an aware gleam in his eye… or maybe it would better to call it, his scared as shit look.

"Why would I lie to you?" he said, relaxing a little, "you should always trust me."

Ariadne had always been able to tell when Arthur was lying about something. Most of the time anyways. This felt like one of his times, only why would he lie? She would find out, there were no secrets when you lived so closely knit with people. Besides Arthur didn't want to break her trust. So why did this feel so wrong?

"It's really cold outside," she said, shivering. He reached to the side to pick up her bag. Taking her hand a shiver went down her spine. A cold drop fell on her cheek, looking up she realized it was snowing. There would be no leaving now.

So sue me, update prediction: every weekend (You can thank my honors English class). Speaking of English, guess who didn't edit the chapter? ME, sooo sorry about the mistakes :/ I just had to get this up cause its overdue

Inspiration for this chapter: What We Will Never Know by Innerpartysystem and the actual Inception script page 103

Thank you for reading and reviewing! :D